Do not increase a wage estimate for any month that will create an overpayment based
on an unverified wage amount. If a wage earner reports an increase in his or her gross
wages:
-
1.
Document the conversation on a MSSICS DROC screen and lock it, or on an SSA-5002 in
non-MSSICS.
-
2.
Ask the wage earner to save the pay slips that reflect the increased wage amount.
-
3.
Post the increased wage estimate starting with the first month that will not cause
an overpayment attributable to the estimated wage amount.
NOTE: Do not change wage estimates for prior months based on an allegation alone. For
prior periods, verify the wage amounts according to the policies in SI 00820.130 and SI 00820.135 and change the income data based on the wage verification.
Example 1 - No current wage estimate is on the SSR and we input a new wage estimate
before the GK cutoff
The mother of a disabled child comes to the field office on May 9 to report she started
working on March 20 and received her first pay check in April. The SSI record currently
shows no income for the family. The mother’s new monthly gross wage amount of $2000
does not make the child ineligible for SSI; however, the wages will reduce the child’s
payment amount. Since we can still reduce the SSI payment for June without causing
an overpayment, post the new wage estimate beginning with April.
Example 2 - No current wage estimate on the SSR and we input a new wage estimate after
the GK cutoff
Same scenario as in example 1, except the mother reports her new wage amount on May
20 (after the GK cutoff). Since posting the wage estimate beginning with April will
cause an overpayment for June, you post the wage estimate beginning with May and ask
the mother to submit pay slips for April. Recruit the mother to report her monthly
wages using the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting system.
Example 3 - New wage estimate causes ineligibility
Same scenario as in example 1, except the mother reports her wages on May 31 and the
new gross wage amount of $3500 makes the child ineligible for April and May. Since
beginning the estimate in June will cause an overpayment, you post the estimate beginning
with July and ask the mother to submit pay slips for March, April, May, and June.
NOTE: For all examples, record when the mother actually started working, the rate of pay,
hours worked per pay, the pay date and the frequency of pay on a MSSICS DROC screen
and lock it, or on an SSA-5002 in non-MSSICS.